Beach Parking at Gateway

Parking Fees

There are no entrance fees for Gateway National Recreation Area. However, there is a charge for beach parking from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day at Jacob Riis Park in Queens, N.Y. and at Sandy Hook, N.J.
One hundred percent of the fees collected at national parks are used by the National Park Service for the improvement and maintenance of park facilities and programming. Eighty percent of the fees collected here are used to enhance the visitor experience.
Beach parking fees are $20 per day and $100 per season at Jacob Riis Park and Sandy Hook. Price is per vehicle.
Gateway National Recreation Area is a cashless park. Credit and debit cards and contacless payments are the only form of payment accpeted at both sites.

Beach Parking at Jacob Riis Park

Jacob Riis Park, Queens: Beach parking is $20 per day or $100 per season for most vehicles. For oversized vehicles (more than 20 feet), charge is $50 per day or $200 per season. Hours of collection are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advance online sales of daily passes are available through recreation.gov. Advance on-line purchase of the daily parking fee, also known as timed entry permit on rec.gov, doesn’t guarantee parking in any specific parking spot. Once the visitor enters the parking lot with their rec.gov confirmation, they may stay as long as they want. The parking lot closes 10 p.m. daily. On site daily parking fees can be paid in person at staffed toll booths. All toll booths are cashless and accept credit, debit and contactless payment only.

Beach Parking at Sandy Hook

Sandy Hook, N.J.: Beach parking is $20 per day or $100 per season for most vehicles. 2025 season beach parking passes will be available April 15, 2025 at Recreation.gov. For oversized vehicles (more than 20 feet), charge is $50 per day or $200 per season. Hours of collection are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All toll booths are cashless and accept credit, debit and contactless payment only. Visitors arriving prior to 8 a.m. can park in a designated fee lot free until 8 a.m. Once the fee is effective at 8 a.m., visitors staying in the park would need to pay the required fee or park in a non-free area.

Are there Beach Parking discounts?

Yes. America the Beautiful Access Pass and America the Beautiful Senior Passes holders receive a 50% discount.

**Please note that America the Beautiful Annual pass holders do NOT receive a discount on expanded amenities fees such as beach parking.

Active Military Members and U.S. Military Veterans who own an America the Beautiful Annual Pass will receive free beach parking at Gateway. Active-duty military photo identification will be required at all times to verify ownership of the Annual Pass. Vehicle Hang Tag is to be displayed at all times. (Hang tag is issued with annual pass.) Every Kid Outdoor pass holders will also receive free beach parking.

 

Where to obtain passes at Gateway

"America the Beautiful" interagency passes are only sold at parks with entrace fees. Gateway does not charge an entrance fee, so this pass is not sold at any unit of Gateway.

Visitors may obtain America the Beautiful Access or Senior Passes at the Sandy Hook Unit visitor center. The visitor center is open on weekends from 10 am - 4 pm.